Description

An early English silver side handled porringer or bleeding bowl of plain circular form. Britannia standard silver*. Very charming with the shaped pierced handle and original hand beaten finish. Owners initials hand engraved to the handle. Weight 125 grams, 4 troy ounces. Diameter 10.8 cm. Height 4.5 cm. Spread 16.8 cm. London 1706. Maker Daniel Sleamaker.

Literature: Many people think that these shallow bowls were more likely to be eating vessels, especially for feeding the sick.

*Britannia Standard. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent. New hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720. Britannia standard silver still continues to be produced even today.